The Rainy River District School Board believes that Indigenous staff could volunteer as mentors, share their culture and help foster an environment where Indigenous students can reach a high level of achievement. Voluntary self-identification would also provide the Board baseline data of the number of Indigenous staff currently employed. Data will be used to improve services to students and programs for staff.

Ojibwe Language Program

Rainy River District School Board supports the Ojibwe Language Program, allocating additional staffing to allow Ojibwe Language instruction to occur at the same time as French Language instruction, so students do not miss other subjects. Introduction of land based pedagogy to the Ojibwe Language Program provides experiential learning opportunities to connect the language to the land. Students who participate in the Ojibwe Language Program achieve a strong foundation in the language and gain cultural understanding, both assets when seeking future employment.

Ojibwe Language Supports

Elders – Elders are invited into classrooms to support students in connecting language to the culture.

Use of technology— Technology enriches the Ojibwe Language Program, supporting students in also developing their 21st Century skills.

Newly developed resources— Resources were created through the MERL (Modernize, Expand, Revitalize, Localize) project, a past partnership with Seven Generations Education Institute, the RRDSB, and the First Nation communities.

Ojibwe Language Strategy:

As of the 2017-2018 school year, the Rainy River District School Board is in year one of a seven year Ojibwe Language Strategy to help develop future teachers of Ojibwe in schools and communities. The Strategy, which focuses on the revitalization of the local Indigenous language, is the result of a partnership with the RRDSB, Seven Generations Education Institute, and the Ministry of Education.

Curriculum Resources

Initiatives

The Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative’s mission is to improve elementary and secondary school education outcomes for Indigenous Canadians through the implementation of specific programs and the application of appropriate research. The Rainy River District School Board is involved in two programs through the Martin Initiative: